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Affordable nanometer-level precision focus stage

Zaber Technologies has launched the DMA Objective Focus Stage, a compact, linear motor solution for microscope OEMs. Starting at $4,500 with an integrated controller, it offers 50-nm repeatability and sub-15-ms settling times -- matching piezo precision at one-third the cost. Featuring plug-and-play architecture, a developer-friendly API, and a tiny footprint, it accelerates high-throughput workflows like spatial biology and digital pathology.
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How Ford automated a moving EV assembly line with vision-guided robots: Inbolt case study

Automating moving assembly lines is highly challenging. At Ford's Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, applying pressure to water shields on vehicle bodies required following a precise path on unsynchronized, continuously moving vehicle carriers. To automate this, Ford deployed two Universal Robots cobots equipped with Inbolt 3D cameras. Using real-time vision guidance, the robots track vehicle positions and adapt on the fly. The result? Near-zero repairs, reliable moving-line automation, and new possibilities for tasks like tightening operations.
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Inbolt launches vision-enabled Robot Programming, closing the loop from CAD to factory floor

Inbolt is launching two new capabilities that complete the company's AI Vision Model for robot guidance at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25. With Robot Programming and Robot Control, Inbolt covers the full path from virtual commissioning to adaptive robot motion control, for stationary and moving-line applications. It's one platform from perception to motion -- on the robots manufacturers already own.
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Top Tech Tip: How to specify electric rod-style actuators for optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency

The engineers at Tolomatic provide their Top 10 Tips for specifying electric rod-style actuators, which have a higher initial cost, more advanced design, and more predictable performance compared to fluid power cylinders. This is a really thorough presentation filled with useful information.
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High-precision multi-axis motion platforms

Motion Solutions delivers high-speed, high-accuracy XY scanning solutions optimized for OEM integration. These rigid, modular platforms provide stable, repeatable multi-axis motion control, ensuring faster throughput and precise positioning for advanced workflows. Ideal for automated microscopy, digital pathology, and spatial biology, the scalable design supports flexible travel lengths and custom configurations to seamlessly optimize your system.
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What is the best palletizing option for your operation?

Is your business looking to install or upgrade a palletizing system, but you don't know where to start? Marc Giguère from Robotiq does a comprehensive run-through of options including a fully engineered system, a cobot, or a plug-and-play setup. A lot depends on your production volume, budget, available space, and need for flexibility. Systems are compared and contrasted. Fastest ROI? The best lean system? What works for high throughput? Find out these answers and more, complete with an available buyer's guide chart.
Read the Robotiq article.

Robotic machine tending for CNC mills and lathes

At IMTS 2026, Mitsubishi Electric Automation will feature live demonstrations of LoadMate Plus and ARIA, two pre-engineered robotic machine tending solutions designed to help manufacturers automate CNC mills and lathes with confidence, flexibility, and scalability. LoadMate Plus is designed for quick setup and long-term deployment at a single machine. ARIA is a compact, configurable, and mobile solution for mill and lathe tending in space-constrained environments.
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What's a ceramic motor-driven linear actuator?

PI, a global leader in precision motion control and nanoposi-tioning solutions, provides a large selection of piezo ceramic linear actuators for different size, speed, and force applications. At the top end of the force spectrum is the N-216 PiezoWalk Linear Actuator, a high-load, high-precision linear actuator designed for applications that require many millimeters of travel, high force, and extremely stable nanometer-class positioning. PiezoWalk technology offers significant advantages over traditional motorized actuators in precision, stability, and energy efficiency. Its non-magnetic drive principle and strong radiation-environment performance provide additional benefits.
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KUKA robots accelerate solar panel installation

It can be tough to find manpower to help build large solar farms. Watch how KUKA robots help workers for Sunstall, a construction company based in Novato, CA, that specializes in ground-mount systems for large solar utility sites. With each module weighing 70 to 80 lb, moving solar units can get tiring fast. Safety is an issue too. Cosmic Robotics (San Francisco) helped design and build the mobile system, which uses a KUKA KR 70 to do the heavy lifting of the panels and places them onto the racking with millimeter precision. [Credit: Video screenshot courtesy of KUKA Robotics]
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Economical gearbox series for delta robot drives

Neugart's new NDFC gearbox series expands its delta robot portfolio, balancing cost efficiency with reliability. Positioned below the NDF series, it features a proven output stage, robust sealing, and a dynamic clamping system. Available in three sizes (064, 090, 110) with ratios from 16 to 100, it offers adjustable backlash to optimize savings. Ideal for food, beverage, and packaging applications.
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Conveying: Drive system enables two synchronous movements with max performance

The new FAULHABER DualGear drive system optimizes automated warehouse logistics, enabling two synchronous, powerful movements in one compact unit. Combining a BX4 motor with two GPT planetary gearheads, it is ideal for storage/retrieval machines and autonomous logistics. Hall sensors ensure exact positioning for compact, efficient, and reliable performance in demanding, small-space environments.
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Decentralized drives offer seamless integration

NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS' NORDAC LINK motor starters, plus NORDAC LINK and NORDAC FLEX variable frequency drives, feature a plug-and-play design for rapid commissioning and high system availability. With onboard AS-Interface (ASi) functionality, these modular products integrate seamlessly into existing or new systems, supporting ASi standards V2.0 and V3.0 with integrated follower profiles for connectivity.
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Non-Magnetic ball slides made in the USA

Del-Tron's USA-made, non-magnetic ball slides prevent magnetic interference in medical, semiconductor, military, and laser applications. Featuring silicon nitride ceramic bearings, titanium shafts, aluminum components, and brass fasteners, these lightweight slides come in seven sizes with travels from .5 to 12 in., providing an ideal solution for sensitive environments.
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What's new in robotic efficiency and advanced gauging systems?

Renishaw will highlight its latest solutions for maximizing robot performance and manufacturing efficiency at Automate 2026, taking place June 22-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Highlights will be demonstrations of its Robot Calibration System for cell recovery and in-field robot calibration, the Equator-X dual-method gauging system for high-throughput production environments, and position and motion control encoders.
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New Titanium servo-drive line for harsh environs

The Elmo advanced Titanium line of harsh-environment servo drives offers optimal performance with advanced power density, providing exceptional intelligent and compact servo drives that are operational within minutes. These single-axis and multi-axis servo drives, featuring top-performance multi-core processors, deliver superior productivity, Functional Safety, advanced networking, and local intelligence in a compact package for operation in extreme conditions.
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Research explores human factors in general aviation plane crashes

On average, four planes crash each day in the United States, with almost all of the aircraft involved being single-engine planes. One in five of those crashes were caused by inflight loss of control, defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as "unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight." Nearly half of accidents caused by inflight loss of control are fatal.

New research from a University of Arkansas mechanical engineering assistant professor, Neelakshi Majumdar, investigates why inflight loss of control occurs in general aviation, which includes all civil flights except for commercial transports of people or cargo, and how pilots can prevent and recover from it. The work could improve pilot training and save lives.

Dr. Neelakshi Majumdar is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering (Aerospace Concentration) who studies aviation safety at the University of Arkansas. [Credit: Whit Pruitt/Courtesy of University of Arkansas]

The paper, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Air Transportation, is the first rigorous survey to ask surviving pilots why they experienced inflight loss of control and document the human factors that led to the incidents. Nearly 200 pilots completed the survey.

Karen Marais, professor of Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, was the second author of the paper. The research received funding from the FAA.

Out of control, high in the sky
Pilots cannot always avoid inflight loss of control, as it may result from mechanical failure or unexpected severe weather. In Majumdar's survey of pilots who experienced inflight loss of control, however, she found errors caused by either a lack of skills or a poor decision-making often contributed to the incident.

Errors included low air speed, trying to take off with an overweight plane, incorrect use of autopilot, overlooking a checklist item, and not recognizing that the aircraft is in a spin. Also, while pilots cannot control the weather, they often fail to check the weather or overestimate their ability to handle bad conditions.

Past research on inflight loss of control has relied on data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Researchers use NTSB data because it is the official record collected after an accident. However, the quality of that data varies widely.

"For some accidents, they would have a detailed narrative about what happened," Majumdar said. "For others, it would be vague, generic, and broad."

Majumdar found that many pilots did not want to talk about inflight loss of control incidents.

"Pilots are too scared to lose their license," she said.

The pilots who participated in the study skewed older. The professional pilots were more likely to be retired. Majumdar speculates these older pilots saw less risk in discussing loss of control incidents.

The most common causes of inflight loss of control, Majumdar found, were poor planning that led to flying in severe weather and pilots recognizing too late that they were in a dangerous situation, which delayed or prevented corrective actions.

The need for training
"What stood out for me was that around one-quarter of the pilots talked about inadequate training for preventing loss of control scenarios," Majumdar said.

Several of the pilots in the survey said they were never taught how to recover from out-of-control situations like spins and spirals. Even pilots who are taught how to recover from a spin may not have the skills to execute the recovery.

"When it comes to actually doing it, how many people can actually do it within five seconds?" Majumdar said.

Majumdar, herself, is a licensed private pilot. She believes technology like flight simulators could be used to better train pilots how to avoid and recover from inflight loss of control incidents. Flight simulators could also reduce the cost of training.

"General aviation is really unsafe compared to commercial aviation. Pilot training and education is something that needs to be done better," she said.

Source: University of Arkansas

Published July 2025

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